“We were pleased,” said Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity. “I think it’s an indicator that the long-term trends are what we think they are, which is things continue improve. We’re down to 7 percent ... it is a continual, gradual decline in the unemployment rate.

“Other indicators we’re looking at, such as online job demand, continue to rise,” Panuccio added. “We’re almost at pre-recession levels for job market demand, which gives us some sense of confidence in the future.”

Locally, Santa Rosa County had the sharpest drop in unemployment in August, from 6.8 percent in July to 6.2 percent. Santa Rosa tied with Baker, Jefferson and Suwannee counties for the 18th lowest jobless rate in Florida.

Walton County’s unemployment rate of 4.1 percent was a slight improvement from July’s rate of 4.2 percent. It had the second-lowest jobless rate in the state behind Monroe County’s 4 percent.

Okaloosa County’s had the third-lowest unemployment rate in Florida. It went from 5.1 percent in July to 4.7 percent in August.

“It is good news,” said local economist David Goetsch. “If unemployment was going the other way we would really be ringing our hands. The actual unemployment numbers are going the right way, but the level of income they’re generating is not.”

Goetsch said while the number of jobs being created is increasing, the average salary for households is stagnating. He attributed that to the high number of new jobs being minimum or low wage.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

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“We were pleased,” said Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity. “I think it’s an indicator that the long-term trends are what we think they are, which is things continue improve. We’re down to 7 percent ... it is a continual, gradual decline in the unemployment rate.

“Other indicators we’re looking at, such as online job demand, continue to rise,” Panuccio added. “We’re almost at pre-recession levels for job market demand, which gives us some sense of confidence in the future.”

Locally, Santa Rosa County had the sharpest drop in unemployment in August, from 6.8 percent in July to 6.2 percent. Santa Rosa tied with Baker, Jefferson and Suwannee counties for the 18th lowest jobless rate in Florida.

Walton County’s unemployment rate of 4.1 percent was a slight improvement from July’s rate of 4.2 percent. It had the second-lowest jobless rate in the state behind Monroe County’s 4 percent.

Okaloosa County’s had the third-lowest unemployment rate in Florida. It went from 5.1 percent in July to 4.7 percent in August.

“It is good news,” said local economist David Goetsch. “If unemployment was going the other way we would really be ringing our hands. The actual unemployment numbers are going the right way, but the level of income they’re generating is not.”

Goetsch said while the number of jobs being created is increasing, the average salary for households is stagnating. He attributed that to the high number of new jobs being minimum or low wage.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.